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Biosolids Digester Facilities Project
Upgrading the Southeast Treatment Plant (SEP)
and facilities in the Bayview neighborhood is a
top priority for the SFPUC. When complete, the
Biosolids Digester Facilities Project (BDFP), the
largest project of the SSIP, will implement modern
technologies for treatment and improve odor
control and seismic safety at the SEP. The treated
biosolids will also be reused for more beneficial
purposes. The new facilities will provide a modern
and efficient solids treatment system to ensure
treatment reliability, maintain regulatory compliance,
protect public health and safety, and meet current
seismic standards. The facilities will also utilize 100%
of biogas produced to create electricity and heat for
plant operations.
As we embarked on this much needed work, we
began the environmental review process to confirm
that the project meets the regulatory requirements
and program goals and to identify potential
environmental impacts. The Notice of Preparation
(NOP) for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
was officially released by the San Francisco Planning
Department on June 24, 2015. The public was given
30 days to provide formal comments by email or
mail. The project team held an open house on
July 16, 2015 to provide the public with an
opportunity to ask questions about the project,
followed by the Planning Department’s public
scoping meeting where the public provided
comments on the environmental review process.
Leading up to the scoping meeting, our BDFP team
made several dozen presentations to community
groups and at outreach events, and made over a
dozen print and digital media announcements. This
outreach effort ensured a broad awareness of the
project and the opportunity for input across the
community and citywide. The draft EIR is expected
late-2016.
The BDFP team released its draft Conceptual
Engineering Report (CER) in December 2015. The
CER provides the basis of design and includes
proposed treatment plant design capacities, layouts,
and materials to progress to detailed design and
preparation of the construction bid documents.
As we move into 2016, the project team will continue
to connect with the Southeast community as well
as the wider San Francisco population through
presentations at community organizations, public
events, and digital newsletters. In 2016, the project
will start detailed design, continue its coordination
with the other projects in and adjacent to the SEP,
and prepare for construction in 2018.
Carolyn Chiu, Biosolids Project Manager, presenting at the January SE Open House
SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM | Grey. Green. Clean.